From groovecake@yahoo.com Sat Oct 23 14:29:42 2004
Subject:Re: XK 3 Fever

Well said, Mark!! I second EVERYTHING you said!!

Mitch

--- "Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland)"
wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jacobsenrichard"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 6:05 AM
> Subject: [CWSG] XK 3 Fever
>
> > I have 2 Hammonds, a 1956 B3 and a 1940 BC. The
> action on the B3 is
> > very fast and fluid. I'm trying a new XK3 and it
> has a little bit
> > stiffer action than my B3. I thought the Key Click
> was way to load
> > when I heard the demos online but figured you
> could adjust it. It
> > didn't have a manual in the box so I've had to
> wing it. It wasn't
> > that hard to figure out my way around. But like
> said ealier by
> > someone, even at 0 it has a more strident
> artificial sound. I'm going
> > to run it through my 122 Leslie when I get my
> preamp back tomorrow.
> > I'm going to go and get my other Leslie so I can
> have them both side
> > by side to give it a Real Test!
>
> Hi Jacob
>
> Remember to default the XK-3 back to factory default
> before you try it with
> the 122..the changes you have made will throw your
> ear when you get this
> organ on a Real Leslie.
>
> It should sound OK through the combo pedal....but
> it's better with the 1122
> kit.
>
> OK cards on the table here.
>
> I like many others, I can sit at a vintage Hammond
> organ..play a half a bar
> of comping....and know if there's something not
> quite right...or totally
> wrong.
>
> I was the biggest purist on earth...and hated even
> considering using a
> simulator...even through a Leslie.
>
> When I hear a XK-3 through a vintage 122 Leslie...I
> hear the real
> deal....not close....the real deal...
>
> This is the only organ apart from a vintage Hammond
> that has ever met my
> requirements and passed my high standards.
>
> When I hear that guys on this list say that it
> doesn't come near...or HS
> haven't cracked it...I have to ask...What are they
> doing different from what
> I am?...
>
> Usually, it's because a vintage Leslie isn't being
> used....
>
> I've said it before and I will say it again....a B3
> with a line out into a
> keyboard combo does not sound like a B3 and 122
> Leslie...so why should
> anyone on this planet expect a XK-3 though a
> keyboard combo to sound like a
> B3 and Leslie 122....and I will even say why should
> anyone NOT using a
> Leslie with any of the other organs expect the sound
> of a B3 and 122..
>
> OK there is a Leslie simulation onboard the XK-3...I
> don't think it's all
> that bad....and if I were pushed....I would use it
> to get through a gig.
>
> If I were pushed I would use any of the simulators
> that have come out over
> the last five years....but only if the XK-3 was
> dead, lost..or stolen.
>
> The Leslie simulation onboard any of the organs
> released in the last five
> years is useable....but I'm not believing for a
> second that ANY of them will
> put the hair up on the back of your neck...or your
> audience.
>
> If you walked into a Hammond store....and saw a
> beautiful old 58' B3...but
> the only thing that was available to hear it through
> was ANY of the
> simulated Leslies channels on these organs....you
> would NOT even consider
> buying the B3.
>
> But hear the same 58' through a 122 Leslie.....and
> your knees would being
> going weak.
>
> So tell me this someone....when all of us heard a
> Hammond and a Leslie for
> the first time...what REALLY sold us on the
> sound...the Hammond or the
> Leslie???
>
> A friend of mine has bought a 2101 for his
> XK-3...and he owns a B3 and
> 122...and a C3 and a 145....He says that he ahs
> managed to tweak the 2101
> and XK-3 to get it sounding like the old equipment
> he owns...
>
> He's really happy with the 2101....I have his combo
> pedal changing a
> connector at present...and think that when he gets
> it back...may be a bit
> down for a day or two when he hears the XK-3 through
> his 145...because my
> gut feeling is that it will sound better than the
> 2101.
>
> As far as I'm concerned...a simulation has it's
> uses...
>
> 1. If you don't have a Leslie
> 2. If you can't be bothered to carry a Leslie
> 3. If there's no room on stage for a Leslie (I have
> always found room on
> stage for a Leslie)
> 4. If you have flown into a gig...can't bring a
> Leslie, and can't get a
> Leslie in the city you are in.
>
> > I don't think you can use the footswitch as a
> sustain pedal for
> > midi, at least I couldn't find a way.
>
> Yes you can...footswitch 1 can be assigned to
> "Damper"...but that's the same
> pedal you would use for tremolo/chorale...
>
> If soemone near a XK-3 can check and see if there
> are any other
> options...that would be great...
>
> This was a big mistake on HS part if they have done
> this....hopefully a
> firmware update will rectify this...and any other
> "problems" that we the
> players come up with.
>
> I have the manual on pdf...but don't know if I can
> mail 3.66MB...if you want
> it...I could email you a copy?
>
> I don't know why they wasted
> > their time putting pitch bend and modualtion
> wheels on it when it
> > offers hardly any midi control at all. One of the
> main reasons I
> > bought it was so I could use it with some modules
> and have a great
> > B3 clone.
>
> Don't worry....it has enough midi
> implementation...actually quite good I
> have found.
>
> I also wanted to have the Leslie output but I would
> need
> > an adapter kit for my 122's. All that said I'm
> sending it back and
> > going to buy a CX3!
>
> Do whatever makes you happy...but what until you get
> the XK3 onto a real
> Leslie.
>
> Mark Trayner, Vintage Hammond Hire (Scotland)
> Tel/Fax +44(0)1333 422600 mobile +44 (0)7976 908 039
> mailto:VintageB3@VINTAGE.f9.co.uk web-site:
> http://www.VINTAGE.f9.co.uk
> Rental/Service/Repair of Hammonds/Leslies/Fender
> Rhodes/Wurlitzer pianos
>


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